Cole Tucker was placed on the seven-day concussion injured list Thursday after he slipped and fell in the tunnel at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati Wednesday.
The news came from Derek Shelton after the Pirates' 5-1 victory over the Cardinals at PNC Park Thursday.
Per Shelton, Tucker's "spikes gave out, and he hit his head” on the concrete. The injury did not occur during the game.
"Obviously any time you have something like that, it’s precautionary," Shelton said about the decision to place him on the injured list. "It was just better off that he go on the concussion IL."
Jose Osuna was recalled to take Tucker’s place on the roster.
Tucker played in three of the four games in that series against the Reds, and went 1-for-9 with three strike outs.
The 24-year-old is slashing .220/.252/.275 with one home run and eight RBIs this season.
He transitioned to the outfield this year and played in center and right almost exclusively rather than in the infield. Shelton and general manager Ben Cherington have said repeatedly that he will return to the infield in 2021, and he is still taking ground balls at second at shortstop during pregame practice.
With Tucker and the Pirates’ other center fielder, Anthony Alford, now on the injured list, it seems most of the playing time at that position will go to Bryan Reynolds over the Pirates’ remaining 11 games.
Tucker would be eligible to potentially come off the injured list on Sept. 24 for the final stretch of the season, which ends Sept. 27.